Metrological scale

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9764350-B2
Application number	US-201514707282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2015
Priority date	Apr 21, 2008
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A method of applying a marking onto a metrological scale. The method includes locating one or more markings on the scale substrate in a provisional state; checking whether the one or more markings located on the scale substrate are acceptable; and finalizing the one or markings which are acceptable so as to transform the one or more markings into a finalized state.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for applying a marking to a scale substrate, comprising:
a scale locator for positioning the apparatus in a defined position relative to the scale substrate in one dimension;
an applicator for locating one or more markings on the scale substrate in a provisional state in which the one or more marking can be removed;
a detector for checking the markings in the provisional state; and
a finalizer for finalizing the one or more markings which are acceptable after the detector checks the markings in the provisional state so as to transform the one or more markings into a permanent state in which the one or more markings are less readily removable than in the provisional state.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a remover for removing from the scale substrate one or more markings which are not acceptable.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the applicator locates the one or more marking by applying a marking to the scale substrate.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , in which the applicator applies the marking in a liquid state.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , in which the liquid comprises an ink.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , in which the finalizer transforms the one or more markings into a solid state.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 , in which the finalizer cures the one or more markings.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , in which the applicator applies the marking in a solid state.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , in which the marking comprises an adhesive for securing the marking to the scale substrate and the finalizer transforms the adhesive.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the applicator locates the one or more marking by positioning a marking carrier adjacent the scale substrate and the finalizer finalizes the one or more markings by transferring the marking from the marking carrier onto the scale.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the finalizer finalizes the one or more markings by exposing the one or more markings to an electromagnetic radiation (“EMR”) source.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , in which the EMR source is an ultraviolet (“UV”) source.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the detector checks the markings by checking the position of the marking.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the finalizer finalizes the one or more markings by exposing the one or more markings to a heat source.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the finalizer finalizes the one or more markings by applying pressure to the one or more markings.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , in which the one or more markings comprises a reference mark.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a pinner for pinning the marking prior to finalization.

18. An apparatus comprising:
a scale comprising a series of position features defining an incremental or absolute track; and
a device for applying a reference mark onto the scale, the device carrying marker matter which can be applied to a scale substrate in a provisional state in which the marker matter can be removed and subsequently transformable into a permanent state in which the marker matter is less readily removable than in the provisional state on the scale substrate via a finalization procedure.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , in which the device comprises a storage region for the marker matter and an applicator for transferring the marker matter from the storage region onto a scale substrate.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 , in which the marker matter is a liquid and the applicator comprises at least one conduit for transferring the marker liquid from the storage region onto a scale substrate.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , in which the marker matter comprises an object comprising an adhesive backing that is transformable into a permanent state on the scale substrate via a finalization procedure.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , in which the marker matter is a decal and the device comprises a decal carrier sheet.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 22 , in which the decal carrier sheet does not interfere with the detection of markings on a scale substrate on which the decal carrier is placed.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , in which the device comprises features for aiding alignment of the marking to the scale substrate.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 , in which the device comprises a scale locator for positioning the device in a defined position relative to the scale substrate in at least one dimension.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , further comprising a tool for finalizing the marking.

27. An apparatus for applying a reference mark to a scale substrate comprising incremental or absolute scale features, the apparatus comprising:
a scale locator for positioning the apparatus in a defined position relative to the scale substrate in at least one dimension;
a marker matter storage region comprising marker matter; and
an applicator which provides a conduit for the marker matter from the marker matter storage region to the scale substrate, in which the marker matter can be applied to a scale substrate in a provisional state in which the marker matter can be removed and subsequently transformable into a permanent state in which the marker matter is less readily removable than in the provisional state on the scale substrate via a finalization procedure.

28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18 , in which the marker matter comprises a photo-curable liquid.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 28 , in which the photo-curable liquid comprises an ultraviolet (“UV”) curable ink.

30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 , in which the marker matter comprises a photo-curable liquid.

31. An apparatus as claimed in claim 30 , in which the photo-curable liquid comprises an ultraviolet (“UV”) curable ink.

Assignees

• Renishaw Plc

Inventors

• Ardron Marcus
• Hoodless Richard John
• Walshaw David Jonathan

Classifications

• B41J3/407

  for marking on special material · CPC title

• B32B37/12

  characterised by using adhesives · CPC title

• B05C11/1005 Primary

  responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material already applied to the surface, e.g. coating thickness, weight or pattern · CPC title

• B32B41/00

  Arrangements for controlling or monitoring lamination processes; Safety arrangements · CPC title

• G01D5/34707

  Scales; Discs, e.g. fixation, fabrication, compensation · CPC title